Choking cough in an adult: causes, treatment methods, drugs

Every person’s body is under heavy stress every day, not only physically, but also psychologically. It is these factors combined, under the influence of other harmful conditions, that lead to the development of some serious diseases. Often, these diseases are accompanied in an adult by a suffocating cough, which interferes not only with the patient himself, but also with his relatives. In addition, over time, it can provoke the development of other, more serious pathologies.

Short introduction

In fact, an asphyxiating cough in an adult is an extremely dangerous symptom, the origin of which should be elucidated before proceeding with treatment. Believe me, you should not engage in self-diagnosis and, even more so, the appointment of therapy. Better go to the therapist as soon as possible, who will give you a referral to all the necessary tests and an x-ray.

After all, there can be a huge number of reasons for a cough: a long smoking history, allergy manifestations, the consequences of a protracted cold or a virus infection. Remember: the first thing you should understand is the nature of the provoking factors, and only then in the tactics of treatment.

Causes of suffocating cough in an adult

According to doctors, there can be many potential prerequisites for the development of such an unpleasant symptom. For example, the presence of a cough may indicate such diseases:

• bronchitis or bronchial asthma;
• heart failure;
• pneumonia;
• common cold;
• oncological tumors;
• tuberculosis;
• whooping cough;
• allergy;
• laryngitis;
• tracheitis.

What else provokes the appearance of the problem

In addition, a suffocating cough in an adult can occur against the background of prolonged smoking. And some people are faced with this symptom due to the nature of their work, for example, in the chemical industry.

Among other things, medicine knows many situations when attacks of acute asphyxiation in an adult were triggered by a foreign object entering the respiratory system. It complicates the access of oxygen, as a result of which a person simply begins to suffocate and cough heavily. But in this case, it is simply impossible to do without outside help.

To effectively eliminate a foreign body without any consequences, some skills are needed. So it’s best not to take on salvation on your own, but simply call on a team of doctors.

As you can see, there are a lot of likely causes of an asphyxiating cough in an adult. And that is why the first thing to do is to determine the exact diagnosis, and only then proceed with treatment.

Symptoms of a Problem

It is equally important to monitor the signs that accompany a suffocating cough. It is these nuances that significantly help in determining the diagnosis and, accordingly, the appointment of adequate therapy. Be sure to consider these factors. After all, even minor, at first glance, details can significantly help in the diagnosis of the disease.

• Isolation of a small volume of sputum, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature, is characteristic of laryngitis. In addition, with this pathology, hoarseness of the voice and severe pain in the throat are often found.
• The same symptoms are characteristic of bronchial asthma. Only in addition to them, the patient can also complain of acute pain in the heart and minimal sputum production.
• Dry suffocating cough without fever in an adult may be the result of prolonged smoking, and not the development of any disease. In this case, sputum does not stand out in a person. The same applies to situations in which a foreign object gets into the throat of a person.

Other features

It is equally important to pay attention to what time of day attacks start to torment you.

• If a suffocating cough appears in the morning and increases greatly with physical activity, this is a signal of the body about the need to switch to a healthy lifestyle and give up tobacco.
• Also, coughing in the morning may indicate the onset of a chronic form of bronchitis.
• If the seizures overtake you at night and are accompanied by shortness of breath or pain in the abdomen, the doctor may suspect you have bronchial asthma.
• A suffocating cough in an adult at night can appear against the backdrop of many different defects: tuberculosis, whooping cough, and even oncology. As for tumors, they are accompanied by severe chest pain.
• If a cough with suffocation haunts you throughout the day, this may indicate the occurrence of acute infectious processes, including bronchitis, tracheitis and laryngitis.

In addition, among pregnant women, there are often those who are regularly tormented by a suffocating cough. Usually, this phenomenon is explained by acute respiratory pathologies, which can occur in a latent form.

First aid

If we are talking about paroxysmal asphyxiating cough in an adult, then be that as it may, with the presence of additional signs or without them, it is extremely important to consult a doctor in time. After all, self-medication in such a situation can lead to different consequences. So, a cough can go into a chronic form, and if a foreign object gets into a person’s throat, the situation can get out of control at all and the patient will simply begin to suffocate.

How to alleviate your condition before the arrival of doctors? You may be surprised, but the solution is quite simple - put your hands in hot water. Oddly enough, but in fact, such a simple manipulation will expand the bronchi, which will facilitate oxygen access.

If we are talking about getting into the throat of a foreign object, it is better not to do anything at all. Only specialists can safely remove an object without provoking complications. If the situation has become critical and the patient simply cannot breathe normally, approach him from behind and sharply, but gently squeeze his ribs with both hands. Reflex strong exhalation will allow a person to push a foreign body out of the throat along with a stream of air.

An adult does not cough - what to do

First of all, you should visit a doctor. Having examined you, the specialist will give a referral to the relevant examinations. Only after determining the exact diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe you a certain treatment, depending on the symptoms and characteristics of the problem.

In general, therapy involves the implementation of standard manipulations.

• Elimination of provocateurs - this includes tobacco smoke, dust, animal hair, chemicals, toxic fumes, pollen.
• Softening and moisturizing the nasopharynx and respiratory tract. To do this, you can use lozenges, candies, steam inhalations, rinses. Remember to also humidify the air in the room.
• If the cough is due to an infectious pathology or allergy, try to ventilate the room more often.
• After determining the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed medications, most often expectorants. Local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs can also help adults cough. In addition, if necessary, drugs that inhibit the cough center, antibiotics and bronchodilator drugs can be used. Mucolytic cough suppressants are considered equally effective.

Just keep in mind that the final decision is always up to the doctor.

Drug therapy and its features

Most often, such drugs are used to treat a suffocating cough in an adult:

• light and potent antibiotics and antiviral agents that are used to combat infectious pathogens;
• expectorant, antitussive and mucolytic cough suppressants are intended to combat unbearable attacks, their selection is carried out taking into account the nature of the problem;
• if the patient also suffers from a sore throat, special lozenges, tablets and lozenges can be prescribed for him, which will mitigate the unpleasant sign;

• antihistamines will eliminate edema of the respiratory tract and organs, as well as stop inflammatory processes, especially relevant for allergies;
• runny nose is eliminated with the help of appropriate sprays;
• if desired, the patient can also use homeopathic medicines.

Effective drugs

The assortment of modern medicines, probably of any person, can drive into a stupor. But doctors advise you to always choose drugs that have been proven over the years with proven effectiveness. For the treatment of suffocating cough in an adult, doctors most often recommend several popular drugs.

• Libexin. Used for the treatment of cough with asthma, bronchitis, acute respiratory viral infections, laryngitis, pharyngitis. Adults are recommended to take a tablet three times a day.
• Stoptussin. It is used to treat cough associated with colds.
• "Herbion". An excellent expectorant for coughing in adults. This drug has a delicate enveloping effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs. Thanks to this effect, sputum is separated, and the therapy itself is more effective. Adult syrup should be taken three to four times a day for 4-5 teaspoons.
• "Dr. Mom." It is often recommended for pathologies of the respiratory system - laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis. The daily dosage is 1-2 teaspoons three times a day.

• "Lazolvan." A mucolytic drug that accelerates the elimination of sputum. It is noteworthy that the composition of the product does not include sugar and alcohol, which allows it to be prescribed to people suffering from diabetes and allergies.

Alternative medicine

Taking the prescribed drugs can be combined with alternative recipes to achieve the best result.

• Inhalation is one of the most effective ways to combat choking cough in adults. It is best to conduct them with the use of mineral water, for example, "Essentuki", "Borjomi" or "Narzan". Just keep in mind that such therapy is acceptable provided there is no fever.
• It is advisable to gargle with soda as often as possible.
• An anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect has a decoction based on wild rosemary, plantain, coltsfoot, elecampane, thyme.

A few words in the end

Warm compresses, warming up, massages help to achieve a good result. All these procedures are effective in their own way and help get rid of acute coughing attacks.

Now you know how to deal with a suffocating cough. Folk methods and taking some medications can effectively help you with this. Only one thing is important - before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the causes of the disease and to study the clinical picture as a whole.